The Countess of Wessex has officially opened the new charity headquarters of emergency medical provider Thames Valley Air Ambulance in Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire.

Her Royal Highness was welcomed by the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire and Sir Tim Jenner, Chair of Trustees. The Countess toured the new facilities as she learnt how the charity has expanded its emergency services across the Thames Valley. The organisation’s new operating model allows the charity to better serve those who live, work and travel within the region and the office relocation was an integral part of this service enhancement.

The Countess witnessed how the charity continues to stay at the frontline of saving lives through continual training. Paramedics and doctors demonstrated the emergency medical provider’s new state of the art immersive simulation suite. The technology is used to ensure that the crew are highly trained and ready for any eventuality. Her Royal Highness watched as the crew demonstrated the challenging conditions they regularly encounter whilst delivering critical pre-hospital emergency care. During the simulation, The Countess experienced a bonfire, complete with smoke effects and burning smells.

Commenting on the Royal visit, Chief Executive Amanda McLean said: ‘It was an honour to welcome The Countess of Wessex to our new charity headquarters. Her Royal Highness previously visited our operational base in 2015. It was a privilege to demonstrate to The Countess how we have evolved over the last three years to further enhance our service to deliver advanced critical care across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.”